Comment by mrweasel
3 months ago
That brings up an interesting solution: Figure out how many flights can be services with the current number of air traffic controllers, take away 5 - 10% to deal with illness and unforeseen issues, cap the number of flights to that number.
Then you have the problem that Congress overrules you.
> The number of flights at Reagan National is capped because of its congestion. But lawmakers have an interest in boosting direct flights to their states – for themselves and their constituents – because the airport is more convenient to downtown than Dulles International Airport
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/01/30/safety-...
So the knew the airport was already at max number of flights that it could handle safely and yet they still increased the number of flights in pure selfishness.
That not just selfish, that's irresponsible. Why not ensure better transportation links for Dullas instead. Aren't the two airports less than an hour away from each other?
Pentagon to Dulles Airport is 20 miles in direct distance.
It takes 1 hour by subway as there is no direct connection and the lines have a lot of stops.
The real solution would be a direct subway with no stop between Dulles and Pentagon. 20 miles using a fast subway should be no more than 25 minutes in travel time. The subway could then continue making a loop in central DC, serving all the offices next to the White House etc.
But that would be good public transportation and that is outside of Congress' Overton Window.